Zoueva's programs

Well, now we have seen the first set of new programs for Virtue & Moir and Davis & White since the breakup of the Zoueva-Shpilband team. What do you thinK? Is the choreography more ornate at the cost of timing, unison, speed, and precision?

Ummm.... I think Die Fleidermaus debuted so freakishly strong last season, such that we tend to ignore that both teams grow their programs over the season. I think both these programs need time to grow because both teams are tackling something they haven't done before (D/W are tackling genuine romantic connection, V/M going for dark and dramatic). Just watch Eleanor Rigby or Il Postino or Funny Face in their early incarnations and you see just how much they reworked/worked those programs to get them at the level they eventually got to.

If they're still struggling in March, I'll agree with you. But for now, I'll withhold judgement.

I'm not so sure Zoueva and Shpilband are as strong seperated as they were together... he's obviously the technical eye in a lot of ways... cleanliness seems to be more his forte... I'm really not a fan of either of the programs they just don't seem to be well thought out... I dunno if they have potential to come together and really gel like they should.

So far, it seems that Zoueva & Shpilband were better together. Zoueva often has flashes of choreographic genius but it doesn't always work and I don't think she is much of a technician. She has hired Oleg Epstein but I don't think he is as good as Shpilband, and even Shpilband had limitations, technically. So both coaches need to find someone with the talent the other has.

So far, it seems that Zoueva & Shpilband were better together. Zoueva often has flashes of choreographic genius but it doesn't always work and I don't think she is much of a technician. She has hired Oleg Epstein but I don't think he is as good as Shpilband, and even Shpilband had limitations, technically. So both coaches need to find someone with the talent the other has.

partnerships on the ice and in the coaching wings seem to only happen once in a career-lifetime... is it even possible they can split and both (or either) be anywhere near as successful?

No, and one need only look at music. What were Lennon and McCartney without each other--not as good. Would Steven Tyler lose his mojo if Perry's guitar riffs didn't inspire him? They were an amazing team and I liked Igor's team better at SC. I'd give em the gold. Voir's left was a mess, really horrible and you don't see that at top ice dance levels. And I think there were obvious mistakes, and very sloppy skating from Tessa in the FD. They get rep judging all the time. They are the current Torvil and Dean, can do no wrong, except I never saw Torvill and Dean skate that badly.

I preferred the Italians. Meh, the top 5 teams in the world are so good. It is like who should get an oscar. I could never be an Ice dance judge. I have three golds a silver a bronze and 2 pewters! I'd be like the holdout on a hung jury. I could never makje up my mind when all skated clean. heck, I'd flip a coin. What is better-Mahler or Die Fledermaus? It depends what floats your boat. I am for giving the shibs a world gold. I almost wish it was wait your turn like the old days of ID, LOL.

I preferred the Italians. Meh, the top 5 teams in the world are so good. It is like who should get an oscar. I could never be an Ice dance judge. I have three golds a silver a bronze and 2 pewters! I'd be like the holdout on a hung jury. I could never makje up my mind when all skated clean. heck, I'd flip a coin. What is better-Mahler or Die Fledermaus? It depends what floats your boat. I am for giving the shibs a world gold. I almost wish it was wait your turn like the old days of ID, LOL.

I love the Italians too. Yes, the top 5 are good and we ice dance fans benefit from that. And I could never be a judge either!

The quality of the choreography and the interpretation is still the same, the variety in the elements is good, but both V/M and D/V now need (for me) a REAL technical coach, like Shpilband was... Their StSq received low levels and they're now having more trouble with the twizzles than they had a year ago... They look less refined, less secure in performing their elements, the ones that received high scores (like the last lift from D/W FD) are the ones they kept from last season, so it's a kind of for me... We'll see, I think it's too early to give a complete judgement.